Monday, July 16, 2018

Christmas in July 2018: Mike Westfall

Muppet Family Christmas has been a must-watch for me for the last 30 Christmases — and sometimes in the spring and summer. Getting over 100 Muppets together in one room (and yes, I’ve counted) was a big deal that didn’t happen often, and Jim Henson’s cameo at the end still makes me feel my feelings.

I like the John Denver album way better than the special. My earliest memory — Christmas or otherwise — is my parents decorating the tree on Christmas Eve with that record on, and 4-year-old me jumping on the couch shouting BA-DUM BUM BUM!

The California Raisins from 1987's A Claymation Christmas Celebration.

2) Which decade produced the bulk of your favorite Christmas entertainment?

’80s, and it’s not even close, thanks to the birth of VHS and filling 8-hour tapes with Christmas specials off the TV starring the Smurfs, He-Man, Garfield, and the California Raisins. My mom later transferred those warped videotapes to DVD, vintage commercials and all.

• Appetizer: The Snowman, but with the David Bowie intro.
• Entrée: This was a tough one, but I’m going with It’s a Wonderful Life. I’m pretty strategic with when I watch things — Nightmare Before Christmas comes on or shortly after Halloween, Elf during Thanksgiving weekend, and the Muppets get in pretty early as well. By Christmas Eve, It’s a Wonderful Life is the best of what’s left.
• Dessert: The original, animated How the Grinch Stole Christmas from 1966.

4) What Christmas episode, special or movie doesn't exist--that you wish did?

The shows on TGIF crossed over a lot, but somehow never on Christmas.

5) If one Christmas movie, special or episode was to be selected for a time capsule to opened in 1,000 years, which title do you think should be included?

Muppet Christmas Carol. It’s both my favorite Muppet movie and my favorite Dickens adaptation, and a surprisingly faithful one that hits all the right notes for a message I’d want to send into the future.

I'm so impressed with everyone's creativity--your answer to #4 is a great one! There could be a blizzard that sweeps the country, or a hottest toy of the year shortage--something that would connect them all. What could have been!